It's been a while since I've had anything but a 5er so help me refresh my memory. Obviously having not enough spring to your WD bars is bad but can having too much be bad as well?If I'm shooting for about a 800lbs tongue weight will 1200lb trunnion bars be too much?I ask because I had a Reese Dual cam system with our first TT and LOVED it! I never have liked the friction type sway controls and would like to go back with the dual cam again but I don't see that they have them in anything under 1200lb spring bars.On edit, Etrailer shows 600, 800, 1200 and 1500lb bars but it misses the 1000lb mark. Surely they have those somewhere? That's what I am shooting for as far as extra capacity to my spring bars.

HaulinBass02 wrote:It's been a while since I've had anything but a 5er so help me refresh my memory. Obviously having not enough spring to your WD bars is bad but can having too much be bad as well?If I'm shooting for about a 800lbs tongue weight will 1200lb trunnion bars be too much?I ask because I had a Reese Dual cam system with our first TT and LOVED it! I never have liked the friction type sway controls and would like to go back with the dual cam again but I don't see that they have them in anything under 1200lb spring bars.It's usually suggested to go the next step up from what your tongue weight is. I think the 1200# will be perfect for your application.FYI, heavier bars will take some of the "bounce" out. A stiffer bar will actually ride stiffer than a lighter bar. Think of the bar as a spring without a shock. Hit a dip with that softer bar and it can flex a lot and have several oscillations between the TV and the TT. A stiffer bar will be more resistant to this motion, just like a super duty truck rides stiffer than an F150.Anyhow, that's my take on it. YMMV.

Going a little heavy is okay. Also be sure to realize that an advertised TW of 800# will be 1,000# or more when loaded.

beemerphile1 wrote:Going a little heavy is okay. Also be sure to realize that an advertised TW of 800# will be 1,000# or more when loaded.It's actually advertised at about 650 which is why I figured 800-ish. GVWR of 8600 so it might be closer to 900 when all said and done.

If you go to E Trailer and bring up the specs for a straight line hitch it will give a range for the tongue weight for their bars. This is from their web site ie: Specs:Tongue weight: 600 lbs - 1,200 lbsGross towing weight: 12,000 lbs

HaulinBass02 wrote:It's been a while since I've had anything but a 5er so help me refresh my memory. Obviously having not enough spring to your WD bars is bad but can having too much be bad as well?......snip...........To answer your question, yes one can have too much. As mentioned, the ride will be a little harsher and there is the possibility of removing too much weight from the rear axle of the tow vehicle which can reduce traction. Neither of these should happen with the bars you are looking at.

Too much WD bar? | Good Sam Community

93Cobra2771
Explorer
Jun 30, 2016
HaulinBass02 wrote:
It's been a while since I've had anything but a 5er so help me refresh my memory. Obviously having not enough spring to your WD bars is bad but can having too much be bad as well?
If I'm shooting for about a 800lbs tongue weight will 1200lb trunnion bars be too much?
I ask because I had a Reese Dual cam system with our first TT and LOVED it! I never have liked the friction type sway controls and would like to go back with the dual cam again but I don't see that they have them in anything under 1200lb spring bars.

It's usually suggested to go the next step up from what your tongue weight is. I think the 1200# will be perfect for your application.

FYI, heavier bars will take some of the "bounce" out. A stiffer bar will actually ride stiffer than a lighter bar. Think of the bar as a spring without a shock. Hit a dip with that softer bar and it can flex a lot and have several oscillations between the TV and the TT. A stiffer bar will be more resistant to this motion, just like a super duty truck rides stiffer than an F150.

Anyhow, that's my take on it. YMMV.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Jun 30, 2016
Going a little heavy is okay. Also be sure to realize that an advertised TW of 800# will be 1,000# or more when loaded.
HaulinBass02
Explorer
Jun 30, 2016
beemerphile1 wrote:
Going a little heavy is okay. Also be sure to realize that an advertised TW of 800# will be 1,000# or more when loaded.

It's actually advertised at about 650 which is why I figured 800-ish. GVWR of 8600 so it might be closer to 900 when all said and done.
Hondavalk
Explorer II
Jun 30, 2016
If you go to E Trailer and bring up the specs for a straight line hitch it will give a range for the tongue weight for their bars. This is from their web site

ie: Specs:
Tongue weight: 600 lbs - 1,200 lbs
Gross towing weight: 12,000 lbs
TomG2
Explorer
Jun 30, 2016
HaulinBass02 wrote:
It's been a while since I've had anything but a 5er so help me refresh my memory. Obviously having not enough spring to your WD bars is bad but can having too much be bad as well?
......snip...........

To answer your question, yes one can have too much. As mentioned, the ride will be a little harsher and there is the possibility of removing too much weight from the rear axle of the tow vehicle which can reduce traction. Neither of these should happen with the bars you are looking at.
HaulinBass02
Explorer
Jun 30, 2016
Hondavalk wrote:
If you go to E Trailer and bring up the specs for a straight line hitch it will give a range for the tongue weight for their bars. This is from their web site

ie: Specs:
Tongue weight: 600 lbs - 1,200 lbs
Gross towing weight: 12,000 lbs

I just couldn't find the specific listing for a 10k/1000lb hitch set. They actually have one that goes up to 15k/1500 and I think one that was 17k/1700. That is what I'm leaning for but bigger is better, sometimes.
jerem0621
Explorer II
Jun 30, 2016
I believe the round bar version of the straight line is available in 1,000 lb weight.

Thanks!

Jeremiah
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer
Jun 30, 2016
If the bars are a little heavy for the application, then don't take up as many links on the chains, which will put less tension on the bars.
HaulinBass02
Explorer
Jun 30, 2016
jerem0621 wrote:
I believe the round bar version of the straight line is available in 1,000 lb weight.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

I was hoping it would be as the TT we are looking at (used) comes with hitch and whatnot. It uses round bars so I'd rather not buy an entire hitch setup if at all possible.
I guess I'll have to get on Reese's website and see what they offer and search from there. Etrailer seems to be missing some stuff.
Huntindog
Explorer
Jun 30, 2016
WD bars are a lot like shoes. Too big is no good as is too small. The right size is the right size.

Many here advocate moving up in bar size,so that when the next larger TT comes along, new bigger bars won't be needed.

I disagree. Sure one can probably make it work... But it will never work as well as it should.

Bars are working springs. They need to be strong enough to transfer the needed weight, and NO stronger...

When a TT/TV go thru a dip, or enter/exit a steep driveway... The bars MUST bend. Too strong of a bar can resist bending to the point where the TV tires lose traction, or stress the TT frame to the point of damage... This is a particular concern with many of todays TTs using lighter frames to save weight.
My Fleetwood manual actually had ratings on how heavy a bar was allowed based on how thick the frame was.

Now having said all of that... In some cases a step up or down in bar size may be beneficial.
A stiffly sprung TV may be a little better with a slightly weaker bar, and a softly sprung TV may be better with a slightly stronger bar.... But when in doubt, try to match the actual TW.

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Too much WD bar?

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